If you’re looking for permission to rebrand here it is. If you’re not sure how to do it effectively, I’ll talk you through some basics.

We all hear set “SMART” goals. You get taught that in pretty much every webinar, every book, every training you have ever attended. For those of you that have no idea what I am talking about, SMART goals is goal setting 101.

Specific- get nitty gritty about your goal

Measurable- get some numbers around it

Achievable- don’t set the bar wayyyyy too high

Relevant- (this is sometimes Realistic) ensure it is relevant to your business and your audience

Timely- set a time frame

But how do you actually come up with goals that match your big picture end of 2019 goal? How do you ensure you’re not rewriting your plan at the end of 2019 and echoing ideas and themes you’re doing now?

Start with a vision board. I like to use a digital vision board, but find something that works for you. Think of your lifestyle, how you want 2019 to feel, this is when you need to dream big. Don’t hold back. If you want to be living it up on a yacht in 2019- throw that on your vision board.

Break it down. Get financial. How much do you actually need to make to get the feeling of success you put on your vision board.

Now work backwards. How many products, service packages, etc do you need to sell over the year to hit your goal? Can you achieve it? Look at what you accomplished in 2018. What sort of growth is required to achieve your 2019 goals? Are you growing by 20%? 30%?

Bonus step. Assess your capacity. Do you need additional resources to achieve your goal? Identify issues you think you might run into, or issues you are currently facing- how are these issues going to affect your growth?

If you want someone to help you hit your goals and hold you accountable. Then let’s chat. I’ve got a huge opportunity for a handful of business owners wanting to grow and scale in 2019. Andddd we go through the realistic goal setting exercise together.

You have been run off your feet all day, trying to attend to customers enquiries and get orders out the door, the phone hasn't stopped ringing, and your trainee called in sick. It's 7pm and you just sat down for the first time in 14 hours. You know you need to do some marketing, you know if your business was a little busier you could justify hiring an assistant manager. You know that your business is at a turning point, either stay the same -or make a push to work on the business and not just in the business.

Strange idea isn't it? I'm your marketing consultant ASKING you to argue with me! Look here's the thing, I don't know your business the way you know your business. You live it. You breathe it. It's your passion. So what's that have to do with our future arguments?

I hear it all too often- small business owner's assuming their target market is everybody. If you are trying to service everybody, chances are you are going to miss or neglect your target market. You need to get clear about who your market is- we're here to help!

I do number of strategy sessions and always get asked about a few of these terms. I want to make sure that not only are we speaking the same language, but that you understand it clearly! Have you wondered about any of these key marketing phrases?

What is cross marketing? It is when you find a company or product that is complimentary to the product or service that you offer, but not in direct competition. Put simply, think of a dog walker and a dog groomer, neither are in direct competition but offer services to the same target market. But what does it look like in the Wheatbelt? Where distance is vast and population is sparse.

It's been said by many- myself included Video is in for 2017. It is what everyone wants to consume from Youtube to Snapchat to Facebook to Instagram. Video is here to stay. And I am baring all to show you what Facebook Live can do for your page. Along with one very important Pro Tip.

Automate your marketing. This is completely relevant to the small business owner doing it all. I recently heard that life is a series of remembering and then forgetting what you remembered- only to remember it again in the future! How is that relevant? Well small business owners have a tendency to approach their marketing in the same way. Peaks and valleys with a haphazard method forgetting marketing and then remembering its impact. Let's fix that.

There's enough buzz around social, that your probably realise it's something you need to do. But are you worried your efforts will be haphazard and ineffective? It's a common fear, and you're not alone- but don't let fear stop you!